THE BODY OF CHRIST AND OTHER BODIES
THERE IS A MISTAKEN idea that the conglomeration of fallen denominational groups represents the body of Christ. This erroneous idea is why people often make statements such as “there is problem in the body of Christ,” “There is evil in the church,” when they examine the corruption that has enveloped Christendom today. These assertions have shown that many do not know what the Church of God, the body of Christ is.
IN CONSIDERING THE STATE of organized religion, you would find that there is a great drift from what is called truth and purity into the dept of deceit, hypocrisy and devilish workings. Men have undertaken to establish church organizations to suit their carnal ambitions and operated them like their personal business enterprises.
WOULD YOU CALL all this the body of Christ? Jesus said,
“I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,”
~Matthew 16:18.
THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE between the body of Christ and other bodies is that while Christ is the builder and founder of His church, men build and found their churches, named them after their purposes and aspirations and ran them like their conquered empires.
EPHESIANS 5:25-27 says,
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES show that there is a very close relationship between the church and Jesus Christ, a relationship better described by the matrimonial order. Christ loved the church with such love as to be exemplified in the relationship between husband and wife. He gave himself for her to wash her clean and pure.
THE BODY OF CHRIST was purchased and sanctified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood,” Acts 20:28.
THIS IMPLIES that members of the body of Christ have been washed and sprinkled from committed sins. They are born again and made to “sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.”
IT IS NOT A GATHERING of fornicators and liars, but a gathering of the redeemed. The body of Christ would be presented glorious. “…a glorious church,” without spot of wrinkle.
THE BODY OF CHRIST is “holy” and “without blemish.” Many denominations have denied that they cannot live holy lives and as such it is impossible to live a holy life. They automatically declare themselves not part of the body, because the Bible says the body is “holy” and “without blemish.”
THE BIBLE TEACHES that Christ is the head of the body. Colossians 1:18. The body of Christ does not have any human head, neither any archbishop nor pope heads the church of God. Christ alone is Lord.
PEOPLE BECOME MEMBERS of the body of Christ through the new birth. John 3:3. Today’s churches are joined by any means possible. It is a matter of choice and if you can fulfill certain laid down conditions, you are a member. But not so with the family of God, which is the body of Christ. Only through the new birth are you recognized in heaven.
THE BODY OF CHRIST is the ground and pillar of the truth, where judgment is constantly meted out for the perfection of the saints. 1Timothy 3:15; 1Peter 4:17, this is in contrast to men’s organizations that not dare to preach the sound doctrine lest they lose their members who are often not ready to receive the word as it is. Since this is the case, they are not saved and the congregations become a breeding place for sinful acts and hardened sinners.
THE CALAMITY OF DIVISIONS and the multiplicity of biblical interpretations as witnessed in the factionalised denominational world have defaced the beautiful design of God’s holy family. This is a fallen state and not the true body. For we found recorded in the Bible that the true body endeavors to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; Ephesians 4:3. Verse 4 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” There is ONE body indeed. Paul admonished that “There should be no schism in the body” 1Cor. 12:25 and indeed there is no schism. Christ is not divided and the body is united.
WHILE GOD’S CHILDREN are working to unite, some self-centered preachers are by the influence of Satan, creating pens to further divide the people of God and blind them from knowing the truth.
THE BODY OF CHRIST is ruled by the pure standards of the Bible, not by church creeds, constitution or by-laws. The church is holding to the old time religion and not the watered down, wishy-washy and mixed gospel of our day. The gospel of the church packs the power to save souls, but the denominational world is bedeviled by worldly entertainment which sedates sinners into further slumber and eventually kills them spiritually. Their hearts are no longer sensitive to the pricking touch of the word of God. They have itching ears and their hearts are wax gross so that they cannot be healed. Oh what a state these worldly churches has placed their followers! It is the broad road that leads to destruction.
IT IS TIME to deliver yourself and ask for the old paths and walk therein, else you may be holding a faith so mutilated and you will find on the last day that you have been deceived, deceived into a devil’s hell.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE not a member of falsified church of God; the true church embraces those who are willing and are washed in the blood of Christ. Then you will know how to worship God in the Truth and in Spirit, then your heart will be enlightened with the truth and then you will be assured of eternal life in glory, because only those whose names are written in the book of life are candidates for eternal bliss.
